Fly Past

8 FLYPAST AIRSHOW GUIDE 2018

AIRSHOW GUIDE

EVENT FOCUS RAF COSFORD AIRSHOW

A main event in the RAF 100 calendar, the annual RAF Cosford Air

Show seems certain to maintain – if not, to exceed – its recent form as

one of the most varied and imaginative occasions of the year. FlyPast

and Aeroplane magazines are once more the official media partners

for the show on June 10, which will major on the RAF anniversary

both in the air and on the ground. The centrepiece of the static park

is a 100-aircraft showcase, in chronological order, of RAF types from

1918 to 2018. Among the machines on hand are several RAF Museum

charges making rare outdoor appearances including its Bristol M1C,

Sopwith 1½ Strutter, Gladiator, Defiant, the Gloster F9/40 prototype

of the Meteor, Devon C2, Pembroke C1 and Jetstream T1. Phantom

FG.1 XV582, the famed ‘Black Mike’, from the British Phantom

Aviation Group and the Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre’s Lightning

(see ‘News’) are already being prepared for their part in the line-up.

Many other aircraft, whether in airworthy or static condition, have

already been confirmed. The list is growing, and more aircraft will be

added in the coming months.

Different aspects of RAF history and current operations will also be

highlighted in the flying programme. So far announced are the Avro

504K, BE2c and SE5a replicas from the Great War Display Team, the

Aircraft Restoration Company’s Blenheim, Hangar 11’s Spitfire PR.XI,

a Chipmunk, Jet Aerobatics’ Jet Provost T.5 and a very welcome

range of historic helicopters. Joining Andrew Whitehouse’s Whirlwind

and a pair of Gazelles from the Gazelle Squadron, which are all

familiar sights on the UK circuit, the Flying Bulls are bringing their

RAF-marked Bristol Sycamore from Salzburg for its British debut.

That alone, arguably, is reason enough to attend Cosford this year.

Note that, as last year, admission will be by advance ticket only – see

the website: http://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

This Hurricane trio comprising Shuttleworth’s Sea Hurricane Ib and the Hurricane Is of

Hurricane Heritage and Hugh Taylor starred at Old Warden last year.

The Shuttleworth Collection’s Bristol F2B and SE5a recall the RAF centenary and 100 years

since the end of World War One.

The centenary of the Armistice ensures a busy summer for the Great War Display Team, on

both sides of the Channel.